15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
How to Abide in Jesus
- Be filled with the Holy Spirit (cf. John 14:15-23)
- Allow God to “prune” you from things which keep you from God’s best (v. 2)
- Read and meditate on the Word of God (v. 7)
- Keep Jesus’ commands (v. 10)
- Be in a love relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (v. 9)
- Love fellow Christians (v. 17)
The Fruit of Abiding in Jesus
- Godly Character (Galatians 5:22-23)
- Godly Actions (Matthew 5:13; Matthew 15:18-20)
- Spiritual Reproduction in Others (Genesis 1:11-13; Matthew 7:15-18)
- Deeper love relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (John 14:15-23)
- Answered prayer and intervention from God (vv. 7, 16)
- Confidence Before God (1 John 3:19-24)
- Deeper fellowship with Christians (John 17:22-23)
A Warning Against Fruitlessness
According to Jesus, a branch that bears no fruit is to be “thrown into the fire and burned” (v. 6). Regardless of one’s profession of faith, knowledge of the Scriptures, religious affiliation, or past experiences, the test of their Christianity is seen in their way of life. If one believes themself to be a Christian but does not bear fruit, they should fear the same hell as the sinner and be earnest to repent (Galatians 5:19-21).
Will you know Jesus better, love Jesus deeper and bear more fruit for Jesus in 2022?